Jean-Christophe Bouissou | |
|---|---|
 Bouissou in 2019 | |
| Vice-President of French Polynesia | |
| In office 15 November 2021 –15 May 2023 | |
| President | Édouard Fritch |
| Preceded by | Tearii Alpha |
| Succeeded by | Eliane Tevahitua |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 October 1960 |
| Political party | Tāpura Huiraʻatira |
Jean-Christophe Matahuira Bouissou (born 28 October 1960) is a French Polynesian politician and leader of the Rautahi political party. [1] He was Vice-President of French Polynesia from 2021 to 2023.
Bouissou was born on 28 October in Faʻaʻā in French Polynesia. [2] After briefly studying at a notarial school in Paris,France,from 1980 to 1981,before he went to the United States. [2] He received his degree in computer science and mathematics from Graceland University in 1984. [2]
He was then head of the IT Department,and later financial,from 1985 to 1986 for the Autonomous Port of Papeete. [2] From 1990 to 1991,he was then Deputy Administrative Director of the port,before from 1991 to 1995 becoming Deputy Director of Finance and Operations of the port. [2] Afterward,he was a technical advisor to the government before he became minister. [2] His political career began shortly afterward and in 1998 he became Minister of Housing. [2] He went on to become a Labour minister in 2000. [2]
From 26 October 2004 to 16 February 2005 he was spokesman of the Flosse government,right after the fall of Oscar Temaru’s government due to a motion of censure on 9 October 2004. [3] At that time he also served as Interior Minister and the period has been referred to as one of turmoil. [4] In September 2005 he launched a new pro-autonomy party,the Rautahi party. [5] Although he had been in Flosse's government,by 2010 the two expressed criticisms of each other and had become political rivals. [6]
In October 2007 he was fined for corruption,after favouring his half-brother in social-housing allocation in 2002 while housing minister. [7] In 2013 he was charged with corruption again over his links to New Caledonian businessman Bill Ravel. [8]
In September 2014 he joined the government of Edouard Fritch. [9]
In November 2021 he was appointed vice-president,replacing Tearii Alpha. [10]
In July 2023 he was charged with illegal taking of interests for allegedly using his ministerial position to promote the Ecoparc tourism project in exchange for money. [11]